LEXUS FLAGSHIP TAKES SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES TO A HIGHER LEVEL

Lexus has introduced even more sophisticated driving assistance and advanced pre-collision support for its all-new Lexus LS flagship sedan.

The additional features, now standard for LS 500 and LS 500h Sports Luxury grades, provide safer and more secure driving in a wider range of situations.

They include world-first technology that can pinpoint the location of a pedestrian and automatically control the car's steering and braking.

Other new features are designed to help the car stay in its correct lane and to warn the driver of the possibility of collisions with vehicles approaching diagonally or from either side at intersections.

The new features expand the capabilities of the standard Lexus LS pre-collision system that uses a radar and camera to detect pedestrians and vehicles ahead.

The existing system provides an alert, pre-collision brake assist and autonomous emergency braking to help prevent or mitigate damage from a collision.

In addition, two more safety features have been introduced across the LS range to form part of a broader Lexus System System+ suite of technologies -lane-tracing assist and road-sign assist.

The new pedestrian alert operates if there is a possibility of the vehicle colliding with a pedestrian ahead. The position of the pedestrian is shown in an animated graphic on the vehicle's head-up display, aiding the driver's intuitive recognition of the situation.

Active steering assist is designed to determine when there is a high possibility of collision with a pedestrian in the lane of travel or with some continuous structures, such as a guardrail.

If it calculates that brake control alone will be insufficient to avoid a collision, the system can provide steering assistance in addition to activating an alert and applying the brakes.

When active steering assist is deployed, the car will only move within a clearly marked lane. The system automatically checks for any vehicles in the car's blind spots, including motorcycles.
Lateral side radar pre-collision is designed to detect vehicles approaching diagonally at up to 50 metres in front of the Lexus LS. It alerts the driver through the head-up display and can trigger brake assist.

Front cross-traffic alert (Sports Luxury grade) is designed to help prevent collisions at intersections by using side-scanning radars. It can detect vehicles or bicycles approaching from either the left or the right at up to 7 metres from the front of the Lexus and travelling between 10 and 60 km/h. In a world first, the Lexus driver is alerted via the head-up display.

Lane-tracing assist operates with the vehicle's standard all-speed radar active cruise control. It can significantly reduce the burden on the driver by providing seamless lane-keeping support on roads with many bends, or in traffic jams.

As well as camera detection of lane markings, the system will trace the path of the vehicle ahead to enable assistance even when lines cannot be recognised, for example when driving in low-speed congestion with little space between vehicles.

The system is co-ordinated with the head-up and multi-information displays to give the driver clear notification of the status of the support being provided.

Lane-tracing assist builds on the existing lane departure alert with steering assist, technology that can warn the driver when the vehicle might depart from its lane and provide steering assistance to help keep the vehicle in its lane.
Road-sign assist uses a camera to acquire speed-limit information, which it presents on the vehicle's head-up and multi-information displays, encouraging safe driving and reducing the risk of the driver failing to recognise signs.

Other safety system in the Lexus LS include adaptive high-beam system for the LED headlamps, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, pop-up bonnet and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Minimal price adjustments result in the LS 500 being priced from $190,500 and the LS 500h from $190,750*.

The fifth-generation LS is based on a new rear-drive platform and features a bold design with a coupe-like silhouette.

Two powertrains are offered, including the first turbocharged petrol engine offered in the LS and the first 10-speed transmission in the segment.

The powertrains are 310kW twin-turbo V6 LS 500 and multi-stage hybrid system LS 500h (combining V6 petrol and electric power for a maximum 264kW).

Lexus has taken its renowned customer care to the next level with an unconditional 10-year complimentary roadside assistance program, making ownership even easier and more beneficial.